Welcome to Season 51 at CENTERSTAGE.
This year, it’s all about the heart.
With a roster of remarkable theater artists and stunning stories,
it’s a season of uproarious comedy, breathtaking music, gorgeous
poetry, and unexpected adventures.
Each of these plays says something fundamental about what
it means to be human, about what it means to feel. To love, to
laugh, to think and to ponder, to long for something or someone,
to risk an adventure not knowing where you’ll end up. They are
beautifully crafted plays, each with a daring and thoughtful take
on matters of the spirit.
Want to join us on this adventure? Membership is the best way
to do it. Not only do Members receive the best seats at the best
prices, but they serve as the very foundation that allows this
theater to thrive. Won’t you join us?
Warmly,

Kwame Kwei-Armah
Artistic Director

SEASoN 51
Theater for the H eart
Animal Crackers

A Musical Comedy Gem

Book by George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind
Music & Lyrics by Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby
Adapted by Henry Wishcamper
Original Orchestrations by Doug Peck

Sep 4–Oct 13

dance of the holy ghosts:
a play on memory

Drama in the Key of Blues
By Marcus Gardley
Oct 9–Nov 17

A Civil War Christmas
A New Holiday Classic
By Paula Vogel
Nov 19–Dec 22

Stones in His Pockets
An Acting Tour de Force
By Marie Jones
Jan 15–Feb 23

Twelfth Night

Shakespeare’s Most Perfect Comedy
By William Shakespeare
Mar 5–Apr 6

The Liquid Plain

An Award-Winning Historical Saga
By Naomi Wallace
Apr 16–May 25

Wild with Happy

A Heartwarming Adventure
By Colman Domingo
May 28–Jun 29

3

th e M U SICA L

l
a
m
i
An

Crackers
4

GEM
Animal Crackers

Sep 4–Oct 13

“Crackers is pure pleasure:
Like Harpo, it’s always
got another ace up
its sleeve.”
–Time Out Chicago

Book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind
Music and Lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby
Adapted by Henry Wishcamper
Original Orchestrations by Doug Peck

The toe-tapping, knee-slapping Marx Brothers classic gets a zany new revival in this
gem of American musical comedy. The society party of the season has landed at the
Rittenhouse estate, but the disappearance of a valuable painting threatens to spoil the
affair. Thankfully, Captain Spaulding is on the case! Or is he? Starring 2012 City Paper
Best Actor Bruce Nelson as Groucho Marx playing the ineffable Captain Spaulding,
Animal Crackers proves that the comedy genius of the Marx Brothers is as spot-on as ever.

SEASoN 51

COM EDY

5

“The richness of [Gardley’s] language…
brings to mind the work of August Wilson.”
–The New York Times

Drama in the
key of blues
SEASoN 51

dance of the holy ghosts: a play on memory

6

Oct 9–Nov 17

By Marcus Gardley • Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah

Oscar Clifton is a Blues man living through his memories of the past, until
his estranged grandson Marcus pays a visit. Together, they confront a
history of loves, regrets, and missed opportunities. This acclaimed play by
Marcus Gardley is a poetic family drama set in the key of Blues—
a memory-scape skipping seamlessly across the decades.

dance
of the holy ghosts

7

A NEW HOLIDAY CLASSIC
“It’s hard not to be touched by the plain beauty.”
–New York Post

“When the actors’ voices rise together in song…
there arises from the dark history being told an ineffable
sense of wonder at the survival of faith and humanity
even in hearts ravaged by loss.”
–The New York Times

8

Nov 19–Dec 22
By Paula Vogel

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel spins a musical tale of hope and
forgiveness. It’s a bitterly cold Christmas Eve in 1864 and all along the Potomac, from
the White House to the battlefields, friends and foes alike find their lives strangely
and poetically intertwined. Weaving together period carols and folk songs, this
“beautifully stitched tapestry of American lives” (The New York Times) is sure to
become a new holiday classic for the entire family.

SEASoN 51

A Civil WarChristmas

A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS: An American Musical Celebration

9

AN ACTING TOUR DE FORCE
Stones In His Pockets

Jan 15–Feb 23

SEASoN 51

By Marie Jones

10

When a big Hollywood film crew takes over a small Irish
town, the locals line up to earn their “40-quid-a-day” as
extras—and maybe pursue some dreams of their own. Charlie
wants to write a blockbuster screenplay, while Jake would
settle for a date with the lovely leading lady. Where they
and their neighbors end up ultimately surprises them all. An
“uproarious, joyful evening” (New York Daily News) with two
actors playing more than a dozen characters, Stones is an
acting tour de force both rollicking and poignant.

“Twelfth Night is a perennial favorite… with its multifaceted
plot mixing sweetness, sadness and silliness.”
–The New York Times

Twelfth

Night

SHAKESPEARE’S
MOST PERFECT
COMEDY
Mar 5–Apr 6
By William Shakespeare

Revelry, disguises, swashbuckling, and (of course) pining lovers abound in what some call
Shakespeare’s most perfect comedy. Twins Viola and Sebastian, separated in a shipwreck
and presuming each other dead, wash ashore in the beautiful but mysterious land of
Illyria. A tale of mistaken identity and mismatched ardor unfurls as lords and ladies,
servants and masters wind a topsy-turvy path to happiness.

12

SEASoN 51

TWELFTH NIGHT

13

Horton Foote
Prize for

SEASoN 51

Promising New
American Play

14

liquid

The

Winner of
The 2012

Plain

THE LIQUID PLAIN

Apr 16â&#x20AC;&#x201C;May 25

By Naomi Wallace â&#x20AC;˘ Directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah

In this lyrical and award-winning new drama, two runaway slaves and an
amnesiac sailor live on the docks of an 18th-century New England seaport. But
as identities come to light and truths are revealed, plans for an escape to Africa
are put in jeopardy and their lives are forever altered. Kwame Kwei-Armah, after
directing the world premiere at Oregon Shakespeare Festival in summer 2013,
will stage this sweeping historical saga for Baltimore audiences.

AWARD-WINNING
HISTORICAL SAGA
15

A HEARTWARMING ADVENTURE
“Absurdly amusing.”
–Variety

WILD WITH HAPPY

May 28–Jun 29

Happy
16

–Entertainment Weekly

By Colman Domingo

Grief is a funny thing. Gil’s boyfriend has left him, his acting career
isn’t exactly taking off, and his mother just passed away. He’s not
taking it all very well. But luckily his boisterous Aunt Glo, a sensitive
funeral director, and his outrageous best friend may be exactly what
he needs. Colman Domingo’s new comedy, a recent smash hit at
New York’s Public Theater, is a wild ride through love, loss, and, just
maybe, The Most Magical Place on Earth.

SEASoN 51

with

“[Domingo is]
extravagantly talented.”

17

See all 7 shows in our 2013-14 Season
full season Membership

is the gold standard for a reason: you guarantee the absolute best seat
assignments for our entire season, and for as long as you continue to renew.

Why should you join?
●
●

●

●

●

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18

early-bird
pricing
ends
April 26

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NO PER-ORDER SERVICE CHARGE—the booking fees are waived entirely.
You’ll save up to 53% off as compared to buying show by show.
It’s like seeing three shows for free!

Flex Passes

A flexible ticket good for one seat
to any play in our 2013-14 Season*

You can use one pass per show for 6 different shows,
or all 6 passes on a single evening. You can redeem
immediately or at the last minute. How you
use them is up to you! It’s maximum flexibility.
Plus you get all the benefits of Full Season
Membership. Flex redemption for 2013-14
begins in July. *Must purchase a minimum of six.

You will be guaranteed the best available seats
for the Membership level you purchase.
Unlimited ticket exchanges, with no service charge,
with 24 hours advance notice.
$6 off additional full-price tickets you purchase—
or half-off additional tickets for students and seniors
The exclusive ability to purchase pre-paid vouchers for the
LAZ Parking garage on Monument and Calvert.
Special Membership drink discounts.

GO Pass for theater-goers
between 18–34 with
commitment issues.

For just $48 come and see theater on YOUR terms.
Much like a gym membership or Netflix
subscription you come when you’d like and watch
what you want. There are no restrictions on
performance days or times. You can even come back to
see the same show over and over. You can book in
advance or the day of. How you use the GO Pass is up to
you. Furthermore, you can bring your friends with GO
Friend tickets for only $20 each.
Sponsored by
19

for Military, Senior, and
Educators for Preview and
Wednesday Matinee Full
Season Memberships.* For
an active member of any
branch of the military; a
senior citizen (age 62 and
over); or an educator at
any instruction level.
(Based on availability)
*ID Required

Calculate the total amount due:
Membership Subtotal (from above or the front of this form)

Qualify for our Senior, Military, or Educator discounts?

GO PASS: number of passes ________________
(one per person)

= $_________

Call the Box Office to place your order.

Add on the 2 Play Labs for $10

Friday | 8 pm

Saturday | 8 pm

Sunday | 2 pm

Parking: #____________pre-paid coupons @ $5 per coupon

Not available for Wednesday Matinees.

+ $__________

Afterthoughts

Post-show conversations designed to give
deeper insight into the play. A chance
for feedback and engagement. Selected
Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees.

Choose a payment plan:

Discover

Visa

Mastercard

Order Handling Charge

FREE!
+ $__________

TOTAL DUE ON THIS ORDER:

= $__________

Opening Night

Night Out

Audio Description and
Open Captioning

We provide a casual atmosphere to chat
with the cast after the show. Ask them
your questions and get some autographs!
Selected Friday evenings.
A pre-show happy hour for our
LGBTQIA community. Come socialize
with drink specials and music. Preview
Tuesday evenings.

A VIP event to celebrate the opening of a
new show. Includes a post-show reception
with designers, cast, and staff.

Every year, we hold a series of diverse readings, complete with open rehearsals that
invite you to join the process. Be the first to hear and respond to these new works in
progress. Add these on to your Membership and save 50%! Two readings for just $10.
Titles and dates announced soon.

❤

American Express

Exp. __________

Giving comes from

the heart

TWO CREDIT CARD INSTALLMENTS. Half now and half will be charged

automatically the following month.

No matter the size of the gift, the choice
to make a donation is a personal one. We
recognize this—and that’s why we’re so
appreciative of anyone who chooses to
support CENTERSTAGE.

THREE CREDIT CARD INSTALLMENTS. We’ll charge the first third now.

The balance will be charged automatically in two monthly installments.
YOU CAN AFFORD TO JOIN! Patrons with special payment needs should
contact Box Office Manager Mandy Benedix at 410.986.4030 to arrange a
custom installment plan.

Support CENTERSTAGE as a Donating Member!
Include a tax-deductible donation.

Special Packages–

Ticket sales cover 40% of the cost of
producing a show. And that doesn’t
include the 25 education and community
programs we offer each Season, most

of which are free of charge. We know
you think the arts are important. That’s
why we’re asking for your support, to
help CENTERSTAGE continue to serve the
Baltimore community.
Your gift will not go unnoticed—
you will receive special donor benefits, in
addition to those you receive as a Member.
Visit www.centerstage.org/donate to
learn more.
From our hearts to yours, we thank you.